There are stories in the media of harm caused by hospitals, midwives and doctors, but there are also stories of poor outcomes within the free birthing community. There is a lot of debate about whether any of these outcomes were “avoidable” and it is human nature to try and place blame, whether it be on individuals or on an ideology. I truly believe women should be free to make choices and decisions around their birth that feel right for them, but these decisions should be springing from their intuition and wisdom, and not from fear.
So as a midwife who works within the system, but who also made personal choices within my own pregnancy, I do not fit into any one “camp”. From my experience, I believe that most women fall somewhere within the middle space. They want input and care from midwives and maybe even obstetricians, but they also want the freedom to birth with no or minimal interventions. They want to be seen as individuals, to choose how they are cared for, while not being confined to care pathways based on “risk factors”.
I also believe that understanding the maternity care system and the “why” behind much of the interventions that occur can go a long way in helping women when they are faced with difficult decisions around their care. Sometimes generalised birth advice like “just decline it”, or “know your rights in birth!” can be far too simplistic. This advice is true, but it does not take into account the imbalance of power at play between women and health professionals, the panic that sets in, and the fear of being blamed if something were to go wrong. Decision making within pregnancy and birth is hugely nuanced and influenced by so many factors. Much of the work I do is in helping women understand themselves, in the context of their story, their family history and experiences. This is the foundation of the birth preparation I offer. It is from this place that women can start to design and plan a birth that is right for them.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I am grateful to be developing a space for myself to provide authentic, bespoke birth support, focused on individual women, giving them support that will actually make a massive difference to their birth experience. However, I still see the value in spending time on the front lines, supporting the general population of women coming through the system. I am always learning and growing, and both roles continue to shape me into a better midwife.
In sharing my services with women, I am often met with the words, “I wish I had had someone like you to work with when I was pregnant”. It often feels like women do not access the right support when they need it, and only afterwards, in hindsight, do they see the value in investing in their birth support and preparation. Social media can be a polarising space when it comes to anything, especially birth. It can feel a little bit all or nothing, and the messaging can be confusing and often times frightening or shaming. “if you don’t do ______ , something bad will happen”.
I am loathe to present my services in a way that makes women feel this way. I truly believe that every woman’s individual circumstances are unique and I want to honour their stories and where they are at in their journey.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I look forward to working with women one to one.
I am here for women who just want to have a one-off consultation with an experienced midwife. I can help give women the language to ask for individualised care, especially when what they want falls outside their hospital or birth centre’s guidelines. I can also help women who find themselves having to make unexpected or difficult decisions about their care with little time to truly research and understand their options. Many women feel they will “not be allowed” to birth the way they want to, or feel defeated due to being labeled “high risk”. These sessions are a mix of sharing information but also providing space to tune into their intuition.
I also look forward to working with women who want full spectrum birth preparation, where we really dig into their individual story and prepare for birth in a way that really takes into account their history, their personality and everything that has happened in their life up to this moment.
In my local area, I am offering post dates aromatherapy sessions where I support women to deeply relax as they await labour, making the most of the last few days or weeks of pregnancy. This can be a powerful experience where women gain clarity around issues relating to their pregnancy, becoming a mother and feelings around the birth. It has also been known to help labour start!
I also love gathering pregnant women together in circle for genuine connection, community and sharing.
Photography credit: Anna Hornby, Folk and Tale
Visit the Ray of Light website to find out more about the services April offers, and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.
